Sturbridge fire chief fields questions over critical report

Wednesday

Apr 17, 2013 at 6:00 AMApr 17, 2013 at 12:29 PM

By Craig S. Semon TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

The fire chief was in the hot seat Tuesday night over a 166-page assessment that found the Fire Department “operating in a dangerous state of disrepair” and saying, “Significant course changes are urgently needed.”

Fire Chief Leonard E. Senecal responded at length Tuesday night to criticisms spelled out in consultant Ernest Horn’s month-and-a-half study of the Sturbridge Fire Department. The consultant, also the police and fire chief and acting town coordinator in Mendon, was at the selectmen’s meeting too.

The report characterizes the chief as amiable and experienced in firefighting techniques but “autocratic” in management style, unwilling to consider the input of employees.

“The biggest thing that has to happen is better communication with all of you,” Chief Horn told selectmen . “There’s enough blame to go around to everybody.”

Chief Horn said he interviewed the entire full-time staff, some town officials and a majority of the call staff, and morale ranked from negative-2 to 3 (on a scale of 1 to 10). He added there was only one rating above a 3 and that was not in the department.

In addition, the report found that while the Fire Department budget underfunds maintenance by $7,000 a year, the chief has sometimes returned maintenance money to the town after not spending it.

Among the problems Chief Horn identified are: unkempt conditions in the fire station, including trash piled in fire escapes; no vehicle maintenance records; controlled substances stored in unlocked file cabinets; a “complete breakdown in communications between the chief and the staff”; lack of standardized policies and procedures; unclear chain of command when chief is not present; inadequate training; ineffective scheduling and staffing, including lack of full-time firefighters assigned to weekend shifts; and use of the town’s rescue boat used to store old equipment, making it impossible to immediately to use the boat in rescue situations.

“Long-term maintenance problems should not exist in public safety,” Chief Horn said. “You got to have your equipment operating at optimum levels because you are dealing with saving lives.”

Chief Horn said he showed Chief Senecal a draft of the report and they went through each page. Chief Horn said Chief Senecal did not disagree with any of his findings in his report at the time they went over the draft, and no changes were requested.

Wearing his dress blues, and with more than a dozen town firefighters in the audience in their dress blues, Chief Senecal gave 27 responses Tuesday night to Chief Horn’s recommendations in his report.

Chief Senecal, 61, joined the Sturbridge Fire Department in 1975 as a volunteer, became full time two years later and was appointed chief 29 years ago. In his opening statement, Chief Senecal said no firefighters have been injured during his tenure because of equipment failures.

As to Chief Horn’s recommendation for immediate replacement or repair of all regulators and masks that are not in compliance with national standards, Chief Senecal said all but five packs have been flow tested, replaced or repaired since the release of the report. He said the other five packs have been taken out of service until the department determines whether they are under warranty.

Hydrostatic testing of all air-packed cylinders, also recommended by Chief Horn, has already been done, Chief Senecal said.

Chief Horn estimated that the Fire Department needed to replace 50 percent of its hose, but Chief Senecal disagreed.

As to Chief Horn’s recommendation for hose testing of all hand and supply hoses to meet national standards, Chief Senecal said the town’s hose tester has been sent out for repairs.

Chief Horn said that firefighters’ turnout gear was outdated — more than 10 years old. He said Sturbridge needs to pay $100,000 to equip the firefighters with proper gear.

As for replacing all fire helmets not currently in compliance with national standards, Chief Senecal said selectmen were notified on Feb. 4 that the department had received a grant to replace all turn-out gear, including helmets. Chief Senecal said the department has already fitted and ordered helmets and new turnout gear, including jackets, hoods, gloves, pants and boots.

As for Chief Horn’s recommendation for immediate testing and inspection of all ground ladders currently not in compliance with standards, Chief Senecal said the department is tentatively scheduled for ladder testing with American Test Center for June.

Chief Senecal said the numerous ladders that were stored in the apparatus area have been secured to the wall to prevent them form accidentally falling on anyone, as recommended.

He said the many fire extinguishers that are out of date for certification or hydrostatic testing or in need of repair have been tested, tagged, replaced or taken out of service.

Chief Senecal said the area where the rescue boat is stored has been cleaned up and it is much more accessible in the event of an emergency.

“At no time was there any danger to the safety of the firefighters using Tanker 1,” Chief Senecal said, in response to Chief Horn’s finding that Tanker 1 had a “significant grease leak” that had contaminated the truck’s braking system. Chief Horn said it is possible Tank 1 would not be able to stop.

Chief Senecal said the department has a plan in use for continuation of command — the fire chief, the fire captain, then the senior firefighters. He said a more elaborate policy will be provided to selectmen when completed.